The Failed Sedation: Solutions for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Due to wide variation in patient responses, both intended and adverse, it is impossible to successfully sedate all patients. Choosing the right drug and dose regimen can be challenging, especially in patients who are naïve to anesthesia. Underdosing can lead to pain perception, patient movement and combativeness, awareness with recall, and the sympathetic neuroendocrine stress response. Overdosing can lead to unintended loss of upper airway tone, hypoventilation/apnea, adverse cardiovascular changes, and prolonged sedation (with its attendant problems).